Shayndel Saldana is a first-generation Mexican-American, born in Dalton, Georgia, and currently residing in North Charleston, South Carolina. Shayndel graduated from Fort Dorchester High School in 2020, and throughout her time at the College of Charleston, developed an interest in psychology and social justice. After graduating and obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 2022, she took a gap year to gain hands-on experience in the psychology field. During this time, she worked as a bilingual Registered Behavior Technician, providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and services to Spanish-speaking clients and families.
In August 2024, Shayndel was accepted into the University of South Carolina to pursue a master’s in social work. Throughout both her personal and professional life, she has become aware of how the Hispanic community often faces barriers to accessing resources due to factors such as immigration status, language barriers, and racism. Passionate about addressing these disparities, Shayndel is dedicated to gaining experience and valuable knowledge in her social work program. Currently, Shayndel is an MSW Intern at the Hispanic Alliance, and assists with the Student DREAMer’s Alliance cohort in Charleston. She is looking forward to putting the social work values of “service” and “social justice” into practice during her time at SDA.
In addition to her continued education, Shayndel enjoys spending time with her family, reading, baking, and walking her dog through Charleston’s many historical sites. She also has a passion for art and spends her free time painting acrylic landscapes, and enjoys attending community art events and exhibitions.
